IZ*ONE to make comeback after vote-rigging scandal

K-pop girl group IZ*One's album cover image. Courtesy of Off the Record Entertainment

By Cho Hae-min

K-pop girl band IZ*ONE is set to make a comeback.

The group's label, Off The Record Entertainment, said Monday that the group's first studio album “BLOOM*IZ” will be released at 6 p.m. on Feb.17.

The group stopped its activities three months ago after program director Ahn Joon-young admitted manipulating voting results for Mnet's survival audition show, “Produce 101” last November.

The 12-member girl group was formed in 2018 through the third season of Mnet's “Produce 101” series, “Produce 48.”

The group debuted with its first extended play “COLOR*IZ,” on Oct. 29, 2018.

In January, K-pop boy band X1, another project group consisting of the final 11 winners of the fourth season of the audition series, “Produce X 101,” was disbanded due to the vote-rigging controversy.